Dog Power

Dog Tread Dog #AgrMNB-999-810

Donor: Tom Anderson

Last Harvest Day the dog tread was a hit with children. They were lined up for a turn to hop on and help with the butter churning. They were going so fast that the cream was flying out of the churn!

Horses, dogs or even sheep were used in the past to power machinery on the farm. At the Agricultural Museum of NB, we have 3 dog treads – the one used on Harvest Day is a replica built by Mike Kilpatrick.

By using a dog treadmill to power a washing machine, butter churn, cream separator, or other machine, the farmer and his wife had more time to do other things. Usually, the animal was encouraged to walk by putting feed in front of it but an experienced dog would hide for a couple of days before churning began!

Here is an ad from Vermont – the sheep are anxious for work or maybe wanting the food!

The larger horse tread was used to power a saw, log splitter or threshing machine. For heavy jobs, larger treads could accommodate 2-4 horses. The horse tread at the Agricultural Museum of New Brunswick was donated by the estate of John McFarlane.

Animal treads were used during the late 19th century and up to World War I to power farm and household equipment before gas-powered motors and electricity became the norm. By the 1920s, they were no longer practical on most farms. 

If you missed it last Harvest day, be sure to visit the Agricultural Museum of New Brunswick on Harvest Day 2026 - Sept 19 - to see the dog tread in motion. Harvest day is always the third Saturday in September!

If you have a horse that could power the larger tread, please contact us.